Method and machine for combing cotton and other textile fibers



Jan. ll, 1949.

4Filed NOV. 13, 1945 FMJ.

F. RAUBlTsc-HEK AND OTHER TEXTILE FIBERS METHOD AND MACHINE FOR COMBINGCOTTON 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 s l 8 7 llnunfungunuu ::::::::n::m:::::uumunnmnlmn l *22 :wmznunnmu: I Hull 2/-\| X xmlynmmmir 2 7 4 f: www 2f;lllllilmlllmlmll I H ULUIUL l LL A :if J \5 Jan. l1, 1949.

Filed Nov. 13, 1943 F. RAUBlTscHEK METHOD AND MACHINE FOR COMBING COTTONAND OTHER TEXTILE FIBERS 20 [76.2. ,ff QR l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 mbv-n effi.

F. RAUBITSCHEK 2,458732l METHOD AND MACHINE FOR COMBING COTTON AND OTHERTEXTILE FIBERS 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 1l, 1949.

Filed Nov. 1s, 194:5

Jan. 1l, 1949. F. RAuBnscHeK METHOD ANDMACHINE FOR COMBING COTTON ANDOTHER TmTILE FIBERS l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 13, 1943 Jmu 34- F.RAUBITSCHEK 45,732

METHOD ND MCHNE FOR COMBING COTTON AND OTHER TEXTILE FIBERS l0Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 1:1, 1943 `kann. H, 1949. F. RAUBITSCHEK'58,732

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR COMBING COTTON AND OTHER TEXTILE FIBERS l0Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. l5, 1943 jan. M, i949. F. RAUBITSCHEK E METHODAND MACHINE FOR COMBING COTTON l v AND OTHER TEXTILE FIBERS Filed Nov.13, 1943 l0 Sheets-Sheet '7 jan. l, M349. F. RAUBITSCHEK ZSSZ METHOD ANDMACHINE FOR COMBING COTTON AND OTHER TEXTILE FIBERS Filed Nov. 13, 194310 Shams-Sheet 8 Fos/'Hon 8.

Jan. 1l, 1949. -FQRAUBlTscHr-:K 2,458,732

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR COMBING COTTON AND OTHER TEXTILE FIBERS 10Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed NOV. 13, 1943 alge Jan. l1, 1949. F. RAUB|T5CHEK2,458,732

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR coMBING COTTON AND OTHER TEXTILE FIBERS FiledNov. 13, 1943 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 LEED/f5 j@ F I6. l.

Patented Jan. 11, 1949 Ms'rnon am) MACHINE Foa comme 'COTTON AND THERTEXTILE FIBERS Frederick Raubitsclielr, Ealing, lLondon, EnglandApplication November 13, 1943, Serial No. 51052 lin Great BritainNovember 23, 1942 er claims (ci. is-nrl This invention relates tomethods of, and machines for, combing cotton and other textile libres.

Objects of the invention are to provide combing machines which arecapable of greatly increased production and which provide a bettercombed, and a more equal product. A further object is to provide combingmachines which are of simplied construction and operation and which areconsiderably less bulky and occupy much less space than known machines.

Some advantages of the present invention are:

Large production: the feeding of a much thicker lap than hitherto usual,is possible, `the machine runsu continuously and the time for changingfrom long to short cotton, or vice versa, is reduced to a few minutes.

Perfect combing: the best possible elimination of impurities is achievedby combing thoroughly both ends of the tuft beyond the middle of itslength, the combing of short cotton is possible,

Strong product: little strain is imposed on the fibres during thedetachment and combing, and because of the |preliminary combing few ofthe valuable long fibres are lost.

Perfect regularity: the regularity of the combed lap is equal to theregularity of the fed lap Less preparatory machinery necessary: becauseof the regularity of the combed lap, less doubling and therefore lesssubsequent machinery is necessary and a drawing mechanism can be mountedon the machine before, and after the combing operations.

Other advantages: The machine is simple and robust in construction; onthe same production it occupies less space and requires less power todrive than known combers.

According to the present invention, I provide a method of and machinefor combing cotton and other textile fibres, in which tuft-holding meansare moved continuously and uninterruptedly around stationary combingmeans and which include one lpair. or spaced pairs, of rollers, orequivalent rotatable members having curved cooperating peripheries,turnable about their own axes to grip the tuft and move it relatively tothe nip of the rollers or equivalent members, the operative associationof the two members of the, or each, pair of rollers or equivalentrotatable members, or the operative association of the two members ofthe pair with at least one other pivoted member included in saidtuft-holding means, being used to grip, take the tuft from a lap, moveit past the combing means and release it to delivery means, the rollersor equivalent members being inverted while the tuft is being moved pastthe 2 combing means so that both ends of the tuft are presented to thecombing means during the time that the tuit holding means are beingmoved from the position in which the uncombed tuft is removed frorn thelap to be combed to the position in which the combed tuft is overlappedon the lap of previously combed fibre, the tuft holding means also beingcaused to approach the combing means in order that the ends of the tuftshall be presented to the combing means for combing and also to moveaway from the combing means after one end of the tuft has been combed.

The expression "stationary combing means means that the combing means isstationary as a unit while combing and does not exclude combing meanswhich are adjustable in order that the position oi the combs can bevaried to suit requirements.

As the combing means are arranged on one side only of the path ofmovement of the tuftholdlng means the inversion oi the tuft is necessaryafter one end has been combed so that the opposite end can also bepresented to the combing means. By inverting the tuft is meant turningthe rollers or equivalent members through a predetermined angle as aunit so that the leading \member thereof and the leading or combed endof the tuft becomes the trailing member and end respectively.

Modified methods and machines according `to the invention, particularlyadapted to -be used in the combing of relatively short-stapled textilenbers, are characterised by the feature that after the tuft has beendetached from the lap of uncombed fibres and then moved by a pair ofcooperating, relatively turnable rollers, it is either held between oneof said rollers and a single nipper means, or between two relativelymovable nipper means. which means are operatively associated with thepair of rollers and are moved with them along the combing means, the nipof one of the rollers and the nipper means, or the nip of the two nippermeans, being caused to approach the combing means and to remain inrelatively close proximity to them throughout the combing operation andthen to recede from the combing means. By these methods and machines thetufts are either gripped at a position on the periphery of one of therollers oi the pair of rollers, or at a position between the two nippermeans, both o! these positions being nearer to the combing means thanthe line of contact of the pair of rollers so that much shorter fibrescan be combed.

In vone method or and machine for combing cott0n and other textilefibres according to the presont invention, usc is made of` combing meansmounted on a normally stationary combing cylp inder or segmentalsupport. In this method and machine the operations of gripping the endof the uncombed lap, detachinf.r the tuit from the lap of uncombedfibres, causing the leadingend of the tuft to be presented to thecombing means, combing that end of the tuft, inversion of the tuft,causing the opposite trailing end of the tuft to be presented to thecombing means, combing of the trailing ends of the tuft, and overlappingof the completely combed tuft on the lap 'of combed fibres are allcarried out by means including pairs of cooperating, rotatable rollerswhich act to ensure or to assist in ensuringthat all the operationsshall be carried out while the rollers are making one revolution aroundthe combing cylinder or segmental support.

Constructional forms of the invention are shown, by way of example. onthe accompanying sheets of drawings, whereon- Fig. 1 is a sideelevation, partly in section,

. of the machine, the rear fra-me member of the machine, the rear disc,the rear bearing boxes for the tutt-holding rollers, their supports andthe rear pin-carrying discs being omitted from the figure;

Fig. 2 is a front view of part of the revolving drum and the feeding anddelivery drums with the f ront frame and driving pulley and wheelomitted;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on theline .lt-Ay movements of a pairof tuft-holding rollers and the manner of presenting' the tuft to thetwo segmental comb sets;

Fig. 5, left bottom. and Figs. 6 to 9. diagrammatically show the actionof the roller which operates to press the uncombed lap onto the feedingdrum while a pair of tuft-holding rollers is detaching the tuft from thelap; A

Fig. 5, right bottom, and Figs. 10 to 13, diagrammatic-.ally show theaction of the roller which acts to overlap the combed tuft upon the lapon the delivery drum.

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view showing the fluide slots formed in one ofthe end frames of a modified machine in which two guiding pins only arecarried upon the shafts of the tuft-holding roller bearing boxes; and inwhich also the said shafts are caused to run in guide slots in theframes, each shaft following the path indicated by the chain-dotted linein the figures;

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view showing the movements of a pair oftuft-holding rollers and a nipper bar associated therewith in themodified machine referred to above.

Fig. 15A is a diagrammatic view of a modified arrangement in which twonipper bars are associated with each pair of rollers;

Figs. 16 and 17 are fragmentary sectional views of an alternative methodof supporting the coopcrating tuffi-holding rollers in their bearingboxes and driving the rollers positively; y

Fig. 18 is a plan view of a locking platel used in association with the`arrangement shown yin Figs. 16 and 17;

' discs 3.

4443a and I3b at its-opposite ends.

Fig. 19 is affragmcntary sectional view of the upper part of one end ofa modified machine including means for positively driving the rollersand the arrangement for guiding the rollers as shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 20 is a section of a detail of the modified machine shown in Fig.19; and

Fig. 2'1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view showing an alternativemethod of turning the tuft-holding rollers in the required directions,such turning movements being carried out positively.

Referring rst to Figs. 1 to 13 The combing cylinder I the section ofwhich is less than a complete circle, is fixed on a stationary tubularshalt 2, sec Figs. 1 and 3. At the front of the combing cylinder I is adisc 3 iormed with a hollow hub 4 which is adapted to revolve on theshaft 2 and in a main bearing 5 provided in the front frame 6 of themachine. The hub projects through the bearing 5 and on it are xed adriving pulley 'I and a toothed wheel 8. At the rear of the combingcylinder, a disc identical with the disc 3, is turnably arranged uponthe shaft 2 and in a bearing, corresponding to the front bearing 5,provided in the rear frame of the machine. The rear disc, the rear huband the rear frame are not shown on the drawings.

The front disc 3 and the corresponding rear disc are connected by threearcuate plates 9, external to the.- combing cylinder I as shown in Figs.1 and 3 and forming a carrier member coaxial with the comb support.

Three pairs of parallel tuft-holding rollers Il) and I I are arranged totravel around the combing cylinder I and at least one or the other ofthe rollers I0 and I I is provided with an elastic covering .such asleather on cloth. rubber-cot or the like. Each roller I0 is providedwith a toothed wheel I2 at its rear end and with two loose collars Eachroller II carries a toothed wheel I4 at its front end. The journal endsof each pair of rollers I0 and II are arranged in slots I5 formed inmembers or bearing boxes I6 which are arranged at opposite ends of themachine. Fig. 1 shows the front bearing box I 6 with its slot I5, seealso Fig. 3, which shows the rear bearing boxes, and parts of the meansor cross pieces I1 which connect the front and rear bearing boxes.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3a, it will be seen that the journal parts ofthe rollers I0 and II are resiliently pressed towards each other bymeans of a coil spring fitted between a set screw screwed through theouter wall of the bearing box I E and another set screw screwed throughthe inner,l wall. The spring acts upon the bearing pad i3dl which bearson the journal end of the roller IU and the last mentioned set screwpresses against a bearing pad lila which bears against the journal endof the roller II. The rollers are thus held in a required positionwithin the slots I5 in such a way that the rotary movement of one iscommunicated to the other and so that they can slide in the boxes. Eachend of the bearing box I6 is integral with a shaft I8 turnably supportedin a boss I9 formed on a supporting member or bar 2l. see also Fig. 2,which is arranged to slide radially in a guide slot 2 Ia formed in aguide member 22 xed on the outer face of each of the As shown in Figure2, the three guide members 22 are spaced equidistantly around the axisof the front and rear discs 3. Fixed at each end of each shaft TB on theoutside of each of the bosses I8 is a turnable member or disc 20provided with four equidistantly-spaced pins P, R, S and T projectingtowards the.,adiacent frame 8.

Thus, spaced equidistantly around the shaft 2 there are three pairs ofrollers I and I Leach pair being adapted for rotational movement aroundthe shaft 2 and for radial movement towards and from the axis of theshaft 2. Each roller is adapted to turn about its own axis and bothrollers can turn in company around the axes of the shafts IB and canmove in the longitudinal direction of the slots I5 in the front and rearbearing boxes I8.

The movements of the rollers I0 and Il around the axes of the shafts I8and radially are, as described hereinafter, carried out by thecooperation of the pins P, R, S and T (which travel with the discs 2liaround the combing cylinder I) with guiding means provided on the frontand rear frames v The pins P, R, S and T are equidistantly spaced on acircle having its centre on the common axis of the shafts I Bat thefront and rear of each box i6. In the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3,the plane passing through the longitudinal axes of the opposed front andrear slots I5 and the plane passing through the axes of the pins R and Tare coincident.

vao

The movements of the rollers of each pair of rollers Iii and II aroundtheir axes are carried out by the following means. At suitable spacedpositions on the front and rear end walls of the stationary combingcylinder i there are two toothed segments 23 and 26 respectively, Figs.1 and 3, adapted to turnaround bolts 25 whereby they are mounted uponthe end walls.

The toothed segments are held in the positions shown in Fig. 3, by meansof springs 26. When the rollers I@ and I I are moving around the combingcylinder I, the toothed wheels I2 and it respectively engage with thetoothed segments 25 and 23 as described hereinafter, the springs 26preventing the breaking of the teeth which might otherwise occur.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, situated below the combing cylinder i thereare two drums 21 and it covered with elastic material, such as leatheron cloth, rubber-cot or the like, the drum 27 being the feeding drum andthe drum M5 the receivingor delivery drum.

The drum 2l is xed to a shaft 29 which rotates in bearings provided infront and rear pedestals 29, a ratchet wheel 30 and a toothed wheel Sialso being xed on the shaft on opposite sides of the iront pedestal, anda toothed wheel 52 is fixed on the shaft at therear of theA rearpedestal. A pulley 3l, to which is attached a belt, carrying a weight 32indicated by the arrow in Figs. 1 to 3, is adapted to rotate about thebearing boss of the rear pedestal 29, the weightftending to turn thepulleyin the clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fixed to the pulley 3I is an arm 33h connected by a cross member 34 toan arm 33a loosely mounted on the shaft 28 at the rear of the ratchetwheel 30. Aligned slots 35a and 35b are formed in the arms 33a and 33hrespectively, and these slots serve as bearings for the journal ends ofa roller 36. The roller is pulled by a spring (not shown) in a radialdirection, so that it exerts pressure on the drum 21. If either thepulley 3l or the roller 36 is moved, then both the roller and the pulleymove.

A cam 31, see Figs. 1 to 3, is loosely mounted upon therearwardly-extending hub of the arm 33a, and is adapted to be renderedstationary thereon -by means of a laterally-extending arm 38 formed withaslot 38a. The arm lies against a stationary bracket 39, Fig. 2, formedwith a slot 39a. and, by means of a bolt 38h, which extends through bothslots, the arm 38 can be xed in a higher or lower position and thus theangular position of the rise 4D, Fig. 3, of the cam 31 can be altered.

A pin 4I, fixed tothe arm 33a and projecting forwardly therefrom carriesa pivoted pawl 4'2 adapted to cooperate with the ratchet wheel 30.

wAnother pin 43, parallel to the pin 4i, is fixed to the pawl t2 andextends rearwardly across the bar 33a. The pin H3 carries a turnableroller It, which is adapted to ride on the cam 3l and is drawn towardsthe axis of the drum 21 by spring means (not shown). Parallel to theshaft 28 and bearing on the surface oi the drum 21 is a roller 45arranged on a fixed axis.

The delivery drum 56, Figs. 2 and 3, is xed to a shaft il which isparallel to the shaft 28 and is rotatably mounted in bearings providedin front and rear brackets 58. The drum i6 and its associated parts,viz., the turnable front and rear arms 59a and 39h, the cross memberEli, the roller 38a, the cam 5I and its integral arm 52 formed with aslot 53, the pulley 3io, and its weight 32a are identical with the drum2l and its corresponding associated parts. It will be seen from Fig. 2,that the arm 52 lies against the back of the bracket 39 and that a bolt53a, passing through the slots 39a and 53 serves to fix the cam 5I andits rise `Eil in their singularly-adjusted positions. A ratchet wheel,corresponding to the ratchet wheel 36', is not provided on the shaft diand, moreover, an arm 55 is pivotally mounted on a pin 56 fixed to thefront arm IlQa. A pin 5l is toothed wheels 3, 59, 83 and ti. By alteringtheA gear train the speed of the drum 2l in relation to the main drivecan be altered to suit the staple of the fibre being combed. A toothedwheel 62 is fixed on the rear end of the shaft 23 (Figs. 1 and 3) andthrough a wheel 63 drives a toothed wheel 6@ mounted on the shaft t? ofthe drum d6 (Fig. 3). By'changing the wheels 82 or Bil the relativespeeds of the drums 2l and i6 and the length of the overlap of thecombed bres on the combed lap can be altered.

Referring to Fig. 4 in order to make the subsequent description of theoperation of the machine quite clear, the mechanisms for operating ythedifferent movements of the rollers i0 and Ii will now be describedindependently of the general operation of the machine.

'The various movements of the three pairs of rollers Iii and I I as theytravel around the combing cylinder I are controlled partly bythecooperation of the pins P, R, S, T carried on the said discs 20, mountedat the opposite ends of the shafts I8, with lguide slots or recesses andguide surfaces provided on the inside of the front and rear framemembers 6 of the machine. The guide slots or recesses and guide surfaceson the front frame member are identical with those on the rear framemember, so that it will only be necessary to describe the cooperation ofthe pins P, R, S, T on one of the discs 20 with the guide slots orrecesses and guide surfaces on the adjacent frame member. Fi'g. 4 showsdiagrammati- 7 cally the formation and the disposition of the guideslots and surfaces on the rearframe member, the surfaces being crosshatched.

Fig. 4 also shows diagrammatically the movements of one pair of rollersI and II in different positions, while the rollers are travelling aroundthe combing cylinder I in the clockwise direction.

The disc 20 at the rear end of the shaft I8 is indicated by a crossformed by connecting the centres of the pins P and S and R and T and theindex numerals added tothe reference letters, P, R, S, T indicate theposition number referred to in the description.

The paths traced by the centres of the front and rear discs 20 are shownby means of a chain dotted line at each point on this line and, whilethe machine is operating, the centre of a disc 20 is carried by discs3ln the direction f a tangent of a circle, the centre of which is thecentre M of the combing cylinder I.

The centres are prevented from following this tangential direction by atleast two of the pins P, R. S, T being guided in guiding means providedfor them in the frame members.

When the discs 20 are in the position O, the pins T rest in the bottomof guide slots and the pins P in curved recesses 1I, the common centresof the recesses 1I being coaxial with the feeding drum 21. As the discsand plates 3. 9 rotate, the tangential movement causes the discs toswing around the pins P. The axis of the discs travels through a curvedpath which is concentric with the drum 21. The engagement of the pins Tin their guides 10 direct the pins S towards the guide surfaces 12aalong which they are guided until they reach the position I, eventuallyengaging in the curved guide slot 12.

As already described. the journal ends of the rollers I0 and I I aremovable in the slots I5 in the bearing boxes I6 and they are heidtherein as shown in the different positions of Fig. 4, that is to say,with the axis of the roller I0 nearer to the axis of the discs 20 thanthe axis of the roller II. Thus, the distance from the pins P to theroller Ill isvsmaller than from the pins P to the'roller II. Whilemoving from the position 0 to the position I, therefore, the axis of theroller I0 follows a curved path having a smaller radius than the curvedpath followed by the axis of the roller II. The effect of this is thatif the rollers are set correctly, within the slots I5, the roller I0 ispressed on to the feeding drum 21, While the roller I I scarcely touchesit. When moving frbxn the position 0 to the position I, the contact ofthe roller I0 with the drum 21 causes the roller 'to revolve in theanti-clockwise direction on its are moved further away from the drum 21,the

pins S being guided in the guide slots 12 and the pins P sliding onguide surfaces 13. Shortly after the discs 20 have passed position 2,the rollers I0 and I I reach a position in which the extension of theline connecting the pins P and S passes through the centre M of thecombing cylinder I. This position, which, hereinafter, will be calledthe combing position, is vacated only after position 5 referred to belowhas been reached.

Before the discs 2|] reach the position 3, the teeth of the wheel I4 onthe roller II engage with the teeth of the segment 23 and the rollersIII and II are caused to revolve in opposite directlons, as shown by thearrows on the roller I0 and gear wheel I4 in Fig. 4. In position 3 thisrevolving movement of the rollers is almost compieted. When the discs 20are in position 3, the pins R are guided by curved guides 14 and thepins S, which have moved out of the guide slots 12, are guided by curvedguides 15 concentric with the combing cylinder, and these pins continueto be guided by the guides shortly after position 4. Shortly before thediscs 20 reach position 4, however, the pins T are also guided by thecurved guides 14. In due course the pins R run o the guides 14 but thepins T and S continue toA run on the guides 14 and 15 until the discs 20reach position 5.

Before the discs 20 reach position 5, the pins P, after having left thesurface guide 13, and after having moved concentric to the combingcylinder, enter guide slots 16 in which they travely until they lodge inthe peaks 16a. The pins remain in the peaks 16a until the discs 20 reachthe position 6, the discs and the pins R, S, T swinging around the pinsP. During this swinging movement, the pins T are guided by the curvedguides 11 and the pins R make their way upwardly into tapered guideslots 18, eventually lodging in the peaks 18a thereof. As the discs 20continue their movement, they swing around the pins R engaged in thepeaks 18a, the pins P being guided downwardly in the slots 16 untileventually, the pins S engage in the guide slots 19, in which theytravel upwardly until they lodge in the peaks 80.

As the guide slots and guide surfaces von the right hand side of thevertical plane in Fig. 4 passing through the axis M of the combingcylinder are identical with those on the left hand side of the plane, itis clear thatthe right hand path of the disc centre will correspondexactly to the left hand path. It is unnecessary, therefore, to describethe movements on the right hand side in detail. asthe succeedingmovements of the discs 20, and the pins P, R, S, T around the combingcylinde'r correspond to the movements described above, except that theroller I I leads the roller I0, since the discs 20 have been turnedthrough degrees. The movement such as from position 5 to 1. where thistakes place will hereinafter be referred to as the inversion movement.

When the disc 20 are in position 1, the rollers I0 and I I have returnedto the combing position, and, moving further in the clockwise direction.the teeth of the wheel I2 on the roller I0 mesh with the toothed segment24, see Figs. 3 and 4,

whereby partial revolution of the roller I0 takes place in the clockwisedirection.

When the rollers I0 and II eventually reachV position 8 (Fig. 4) theyare moving around the receiving drum 46 as described in connection with`the movement of the rollers around the feeding drum 21. The roller II)rotates in the counter-clockwise direction on the drum 46, while theroller I I scarcely touches it.

When the discs 20 have reached position 8, the .pins S are engaged inguide recesses 8I and the discs swing about these pins with the pins Prunning in contact with the guide surfaces 82. In due course, the pins Tre-engage in the guide slots 10 (position 0) `r and the pins P re-engagein the guide recesses 1I. The rollers are thus inverted and the rollerII) again leads the roller II when it contacts with the surface of thefeeding drum 21.

rollers indicate that rollers are not revolving around their axes.

The rollers I and II take a, part in every operation and the completeoperation of the machine can be understood most easily by following themovement of a pair of rollersv around the combing cylinder I.

Detachment of the twft of fibres In Fig. 6, the rollers I0 and II areshown in a position corresponding to position Il in'Fig. 4. Owing to theaction of the weight 32, the roller 38 moves at the speed of the drumv21 towards the rollers I8 and II. The arms 33a and 33h are preventedfrom reaching a greater speed than the drum 21 (which is turning in thesame direction) by means oi' the pawl 42, which is held by a tooth ofthe ratchet wheel 30. While moving towards the rollers I0 and II, theroller 36 presses upon the drum 21, the fibre ends 84 of the fibroussheet-or lap 83, which has been opened l in known manner, the fibreslying substantially parallel. As shown in Fig. 6 the lap 63 has reachedthe feeding drum 21 underneath one or more calender rollers 46 turnableonl fixed axes.

While rolling on the drum 21 in the counter clockwise direction, theroller I0 and its collars I3a..and I3b, see Fig. 1, come into contactwith the arms 33a and 33h and push them against the direction in whichthey try to turn. The pawl rolls on the top of the lap 63, the end 84 ofwhich passes underneath the roller I0 and is seized between thecounter-rotating rollers I0 and Ii. Any fibres which may stick to thedrum2'l are stripped off by the roller II and led to the rest of thefibres. In the position shown in Fig. 8, the rollers IIJ and IIterminate their'movement on the drum 21 and they cease to rotate aroundtheir axes when they leave the drum 21` The lap 83 is firmly heldbetween the rollers IIl and II and its end 84 partly protrudes fromr thenip of the rollers.

'Ihe rollers I0 and II move further from, the drum 21, and finally moveout of the way of the arms 33a and 33h and of the roller 36. As thelatter still tries to move in the clockwise direction, owing to theaction of the weight 32, it causes a steady pressure to be exerted onthat part of the lap 83 which is held under the roller 36 and betweenthf; rollers, ID and II, see Fig. 9. As long as the end of the lap up tothe nip of the roller 36 is shorter than the staple length the bres heldbetween the rollers I0 and II and the roller 36 resist a movement of thelatter in the clockwise direction.

Moving still further from the drum 21, the rollers I0 and I I draw allthe fibres (i. e., the tuft) held 'between them in its reach.- Theroller 36y pressing steadily on the lap 83 and in the opposite directionto that in which the tuft is moving, prevents fibres from the lap 83being taken along with the tuft. Thus, a neat and clean seperation ofthe tuft is obtained, 'when position I, Fig. 5, is reached. In thisposition, the lap 83, held by the roller 36 on the drum 21 projects fromunder the roller in the form of a tuft 84a.

As they are now freed from all restraint, the arms 33a and 33h move` inthe clockwise direction at a greater speed than the druml 21 and theroller 38 successively presses the tuft on the drum 21, until it reachesthe ends of the bres. The rise 46 -of the cam 31 must be set in such aposition that it causes the roller 44 to descendand the pawl 42 to fallbetween two teeth oi the ratchet wheel 30 at the moment when the roller36 reaches the end of the said fibres. Thereafter', the arms 33a and 33hand the roller 36 travel at the speed of the drum 21, until the initialposition (Fig. 6) for the detachment of a tuft is again reached.

The detachment of the succeeding tuft, carried f out as described abovefor the first pair of rollers Preliminary and final vcombing Fig. 5shows the combing cylinder I and the two needled segments 86, 81, and90, 9| in cross section, with`a pair of rollers I0 and II in differentpositions around the cylinder', the feeding drum 21 andthe receivingdrum 46, also being shown in end view as in Fig. 2. Known machinescomprise vrevolving combing cylinders which carry rows of needles whichare thinner and more closely spaced proceeding in the opposite directionto rotation.

In contra-distinction to this usual arrangement, for the preliminarycombing of the fibres in the .present machine additional rows 81- and ofthick and` widely-spaced needles are arranged in front of the segments86 and 9i, which A have thinner and more closely spaced needles.

Moving onwards from position I. Fig. 5, the pair of rollers i0 and IIapproaches the combing cylinder and reaches the combing position Justbefore position II. In this position the rollers Ill and II are revolvedaround their axes in the directions shown by the arrows and as describedabove. The end 8% of the tuft penetrates gradually deeper between theneedles. The rotation of the rollers lasts for a part or for the wholeof the movement of the rollers past the segment 81, thus causing thepreliminary combing of the tuft. rThe needles of the segment El workinggradually inwards from the tip to near the gripped end of the tuft,prepare the tuft for the succeeding final combing operation. Thus. thereis no't only a smaller loss of the valuable long fibres and less strainon them, but a greater speed of combing is admissible.

The final combing of the tuft starts at about position III and isfinished some time after the rollers I0 and II reach position IV duringwhich time the rollers IU and IIv do not rotate.

By the inversion movement, shown at its culminating position V, Fig. 5,the rollers- I0 and Ii are brought into the lcombing position for theright hand side of the combing cylinder I some time before reachingposition VI. The un- I combed trailing end 92 of the tuft now leads andundergoes a treatment similar to that already described for theoriginally leading end 84 of the tuft, In position VI, the rollers I0and II (which are now turning on their axes) are shown some time afterthey have started to feed the tuft tovbeen in operation for some time.

estaras lll wards the combing cylinder. 'l'hevpreliminary combingoperation is carried out while the rollers are travelling past thesegment at and the final combing operation is carried out while they aretravelling past the segment Si and passing position VTI.

'Ihe percentage of noil is determined by the length of the tuft ends 84and 92 penetrated by the needles 89 of the combing segments as thislength determines the length of the longest rlbres and consequently thenumber of fibres that are combed out. This length can be altered forinstance, by changing the number of teeth of the segments 23 and 24,Figs. 3 and 4.

By combing thoroughly both ends of the tuft, the best possible combingof the fibres is achieved.

Overlapping This operation is similar to the detachment of the tuft but,of course, is carried out in a reverse manner.

Leaving the combing position shortly after position VII, Fig. 5, therollers ill and il travel downwards towards the delivery drum t6, seeposition VIII Fig. 5, until, see Fig. 10, the roller I comes to rest onthe drum tt. and thus upon the end of the combed lap 93 if the machinehas A part @t of the bar il (Fig. 1) connecting the bearing boxes i6simultaneously falls into a recess in the arm 65. As described above,the roller ill rolls on the drum 46 during its succeeding movementaround a part of it (Fis. 11) pressing the tuit onto the fibres of thelap 93 and delivering .it onto the surface of the drum. Being carriedalong with the part et, the arm b causes the arm 49a to move in theanti-clockwise direction. In this manner, the roller a follows theroller ill and presses the delivered tuft thoroughly with the lap.

Fig. 12 shows the whole tuft after its delivery a shorttlme earlier, theend 92 of the tuft being underneath the roller 36a. At this moment, theconnection between the part @t and the arm 55 is released by setting therise et of the cam 5i in the right position. The roller 58 passing fromthe part of the cam 5i of larger radius to the part of smaller radiusbrings about the release. The arm 49a can now move in the clockwisedirection owing to the action of the weight 32a, taking along with itthe roller a (Fig. 13), while the rollers Iii and H' finish theirmovement around the drum 48. The arm 49a comes to a standstill against astop wa at some distance from the calender roller 8B, Fig. 5. and staysthere until the succeeding pair of rollers l0 and il reaches the initialposition, Fig. 10, for the overlapping operation. The combed lap 93leaves the delivery drum 46 underneath the calender roller 65 ready forthe succeeding spinu ning operations.

The modified machine shown in Figs. 14, 15 and 19 is particularly usefulfor combing shorter stapled fibres, which have to be held closer to thecombing needles than is possible if they are held between thetuft-holding rollers.

This modified machine is characterised by the feature that after thetuft has been detached from the lap of uncombed fibres by a pair oftuftholding rollers ill and ii it is held between one of said rollersand a nipper means, which is operatively associated with the pair ofrollers and is continuously revolved around the combing cylinder orsupport, the nip of the roller and the nipper means being caused toapproach the combing needles and to remain in relatively close proximityto them throughout the. combing operation. By this method, the tuit isgripped at a position on the periphery of one of the rollers of the pairof tuft-holding rollers, which is relatively much nearer to the combingneedles than the line of contact of the two rollers, so that, obviously,much shorter fibres can be combed.

.As in the combing machine described above, the rollers of each pair oftuit-holding rollers ill and ii are turnably mounted in twointerconnected bearing boxes i6 having outwardly projecting shafts i8,which shafts are also turnable in bearings provided in two supportingbars 2i slidable in radial guides fixed on the front and rear discs orend plates 3 of the revolvable carrier member 3, 9. In the machine nowbeing described, however, see Fig. 19, the shafts i8 are extended so asto engage in continuous guide slots formed in the end frames t of themachine as described more fully hereinafter. v

Further, on each of the said shafts i8 the pincarying discs 2li arereplaced by two radial arms Zta arranged diametrically (Fig, 19) eachcarrying a pin and each set of two pins P and S cooperates with guideslots provided on the front and rear end frame members of the machine,as described hereinafter with reference to Fig. 1'4.

r These cooperating shafts and slots and the cooperating pins and slotscause each pair of tuftholding rollers to follow a predetermined path(which differs somewhat from that described By changing the speed of thedelivery drum above) and to carry out the two inversionary movements asthey travel through one revolution around the comb support, just as inthe machine of Figs. 1 to 13.

This modified method of moving the rollers i0 and li is used whenmovable means, such as a nipper bar, are arranged to operate inassociation with each pair of tuft-holding rollers, the nipper bar beingcarried upon supporting means mounted upon, and movable with, the saidcarrier member 3, or the plate 9. Means are provided whereby the nipperbar is forced into contact with one of said rollers during each time theends of each tuft are being combed. This arrangement will be morespecifically described hereinafter with reference to Fig. 15.

The said modified method for moving the cooperating rollers iiiand Ilaround the combing cylinder i ls shown in Figs. 14 and 19. i

The outwardly-extended shafts i8, Fig. 19, take over the work carriedout by the pins R and T in the construction ofFigs. 1 to 13. Therefore,the discs 20 are not needed in this constructional form and, asmentioned above. they are replaced by radial bars 20a carrying thediametrically opposite pins P and S at equal distances from the centreof the boss which carries therbars and v the pins S swing upwards.

said cross moves concentrically around the centre 13 which is xed to theshaft I0. or parts attached to it.

'The chain dotted line in Fig. 14 indicates the centre line of the guideslot cut into each end i'rame 8, of the machine, Fig. 19, and into whichprojects the end of shaft I8. When the machine is in operation, the endsof each shaft I8 slide in the guide slots in the two end frames and thuscontrol the position of the rollers I and |I in relation in the centreM, as they travel around .the combing cylinder. The turning movement ofthe rollers around the centre ot the cross formed by lines connectingthe centres o1" these pins P and S and the centres of the rollers I0 andI I, is controlled by the pins P and S, one or both of which slides inguide slots 8a provided for them in each end frame 8, Fig. 19, of themachine.

Referring to Fig. 14, in position 0 the pins P rest in the corners ofthe guide slots 1|. As the centre of the. above mentioned cross movesaway from the feeding drum 21, the pins P are guided in the longer partsof the recesses 1| until position I is reached and the pins S haveentered the lower ends of guide slots 12. The pins S continue to travelin the guide slots 12 until the positions 2 to 4 are reached and passed.Beyond position 4, as indicated by broken lines. the pins S leave theupper ends of the slots 12 and the pins P enter the top ends of guideslots |01, in which they remain while reaching and passing through thepositions 6, 6 and 1. In position 8, the pins P leave the slots |01while the pins S enter guide slots 8|. After position 8 the centre ofthe said cross moves further along the chain-dotted line and; during themovement of the said cross along that part of the said line which isconcentric with the delivery drum 48, the pins S travel in the bottom ofthe `slots 8| and the pins P swing over towards the slots 1I. Inposition 8, the pins S leave the slots 8|, while the pins P enter theslots 1| and as the pins advance in these slots of the feeding drum 21when the pins P are turning at the junction of the inclined branches ofthe slots 1|.

Fig. 15 shows diagrammatically the combing cylinder and the two needled,preliminary combing segments 81 and 80 and the two needled, nal combingsegments 88 and 9|. The feeding drum 21 and the receiving drum 48 areshown in end view in Figs. 14 and 15.

As shown in the positions I to 3, Fig. 15, after the cooperatingtuft-holding rollers I0 and |I have moved from the feeding drum 21, thespacing oi the rollers from the centre M of the combing cylindergradually diminishes. In Fig. 15, position I, the roller II eithertouches, or approaches very closely to, an arcuate sectioned nipper bar95, having a rounded leading edge, one such nipper bar being associatedwith each pair of rollers I0 and II. Each nipper bar 85 extends betweenthe said front and rear discs or end plates 3 of the carrier member 8,8, by which the pairs of tutt-holding rollers are revolved around thecombing cylinder I. One disc, i. e., the rear disc 3 only is shown-inFig. 15. The nipper bar is of about the same length as the covered partsof the rollers I0 and II and it is fixed at each end to an arm 96, eachof the two arms being pivoted at 91 to a lever 98, shown in positions 2and 5, which is pivotally mounted at 89 on the front or rear disc as thecase may be. Each nipper bar 95 is thus supported by two arms 88 carriedby two levers 88, arranged at opposite ends The centre of the of thesaid carrier member, the arrangement being such that the bars arecarried around the combing cylinder together with the adjacent pair o frollers I0 and with which they are always associated. Each arm 88 isprovided with a pin IOI, which is adapted to engage in an arcuate slot`|02 cut in the adjacent disc 3, or in a part attached thereto. the slotbeing shown only in positions 2 and l. y

The arms 88 are acted upon by springs (indicated by the arrows |00)which are fixed at their opposite ends to the front or rear disc. Bythis arrangement, as the said discs rotate, the arms 98 tend to turn inthe anti-clockwise direction under the action of the springs |00, thepins |0| sliding in the slots |02, see position 5, wherein the pin |0|has-moved to the bottom end oi the slot |02. The slots |02 are formed insuch a way as to keep the nipper bars 95 at the required distance fromthe rollers I0 and II.

Startingfrom the position 0, Figs. 14 and 15, during its movement aroundthe combing cylinder I, the rol'er II either touches, or very closelyapproaches, the nipper bar 95 when it reaches position I as alreadymentioned above. Not too far removed from position I, the rollers I0 andII are caused to start turning in the direction indicated by the arrowsin position 2, thus delivering at least the tips 84 of the tuft past thenipper bar 95. Thereafter, the rollers I0 and II, or a memberoperatively connected with them, by further approaching the centre M ofthe comb support, turn the arms 86 in the clockwise direction againstthe action of the springs |00, the pins IOI being guided in the slots|02.

As a result of the action of the springs |00 and the movement of therollers I0 and II, the

nipper bar is forced to enter the space between the rollers in position2. In this manner, the tuft is pressed against the roller I0 by thenipper bar.

Assuming that the tuft is so short that only the tips of the tuft end 92are still held between the rollers I0 and I I, a further turningmovement of the rollers will cause the tuft to be gripped solecombing,until about position 3 is reached.

In position 3, Fig. 15, the roller I0 and the nipper bar 95 are at theirshortest distances from the needles and this combing position ismaintained by the rollers and nipper bar whie the tuft is being combedby the needles of the combing segment 86 and until position 4 isreached.

Beyond this position, as in the case of the machine described withreference to Figs. 1 -to 13, the rollers I0 and I| are inverted through180 degrees (but in the clockwise direction) so that the roller |I thenbecomes the leading roller. During the first part of this inversionarymovement, the distance of the rollers I0 and il from the centre Mincreases and. under the action of the springs |00 and slots |02, thearms 96 turn in the anti-clockwise direction.

Meanwhile, the rollers I0 and II haveturned.

arcate@ rollers Ill and II, is gripped rst between the rollers Iuntil,in continuation of this movement, a desired length of the uncombed endprotrudes from between the rollers, as shown in position 5. In themanner described in connection with the tuit end 861, in position E, theend 92 of the tuft is first delivered past the nipper bar 95 (notshown). Position t corresponds to position 2, and so on, so that thepreliminary-combing and the nai combing of the tult end 92 is carriedout in the same way as already described in connection with the end 841.Alter the rollers Ill and il have reached position 8, they move towardsthe delivery drum i3 until they reach position 'I3 again and the arms 96return to their initial positions shown in position ll.

In a modified construction shown in Fig. A, just before and during thecombing of each end of the tuit, the latter is not gripped between oneof the rollers IIJ and II and the single nipper bar 95, but between thelatter and another nipper bar 95A arranged symmetrically to it. Thesecond nippel' bar 95A is shown in positions Q to il in Fig. 15A. Thenipper bar 95A is carried upon arms 96A, position 5, identical with thearms QS,

also pivotally mounted upon levers 98A which 1are identical with thelevers 93 and are pivotally mounted upon the end discs 3 of said carriermember 3, 9. The second nipper bar 95A, however, is directed against thedirection of travel of the rollers Il and II. The arms 96A carrying thcsecond nipper bar 95A are acted upon by springs IUOA corresponding tothe springs itil, and the arms also carry pins IIJIA, corresponding tothe pins IUI, movable in curved slots IDZA.

In this modiiication, the rollers IU and I l gradually approach thecentre M of the combing cylinder from position 0, see Fig. 15A, and inposition I the roller II contacts the nipper bar 95 and the roller i!)the second nipper bar 95A. About in this position, the rollers areturned so that they deliver the end 84 of the tuft between the twonipper bars. At the desired moment, in about position 2, the two nipper`bars 95 and 95A both enter the space between the rollers and the tuftis gripped between them. The bars continue to approach the centre M, thearms carrying them being pushed inwards towards the centre M by therollers, or means attached to them, so that they gradually present thetuft end B to the i needle segment BI for the preliminary combing. Inabout position 3, the rollers IU and II have ceased turning, the nipper-bars have ceased approaching the centre M and this combing position ismaintained during the nal combing.

After the final combing, beyond position 4, the nipper bar carrying-arms9B and 96A. are turned outwards again and directed away from the centreM, and the rollers I Il and II are turned on their axes and grip theuncombed tuft end 92. The rollers carry out their inverslonary movement,position 5, and the same operations of the two nipper bars 95 and 95Aare carried out while the tuft end 92 is being combed by the preliminaryand nal comb sets 90 and 9i on the right hand side of the combingsupport.

. If the tufts are relatively short they may be gripped solely by thenipper bars 95 and 95A during the combing operations, being thenreleased by the rollers I0 and I I, positions 3 and II'. Longer tufts,however, are gripped both by the rollers and the nipper bars.

Figs. 16 and 17 show a modication of the bearing boxes I6 illustrated inFig. 3a for holding the rollers I 0 and I I. This modied constructionlllslot iii and the part bearings Ic and Ida in Fig.Y

16 are wider. These part-bearings are slotted or drilled at it at eachside to allow a bent rod iilll, to be passed through them, the ends ofthe rods protruding through the bottom part or connecting bar Il of theboxes It. On the inner end of the rod It@ is fixed a plate IIB whichcarries a set screw Iii adapted to adjust the pressure of a spring H2upon the half-bearing Ic. On both sides of the bent rod it there areprovided stops itil which prevent the half-bearing Ida moving outwards.To both outer ends. of the bent rod there are fixed two spaced buttonsIIIII, the distance between which is equal to the thickness of the plateH5, see Figs. 16 and 18. The plate is provided with two curved slotsII6, and is turnably arranged on a set screw I Il, which is screwed intothe connecting bar II of the boxes I6.

When the machine is operating the position of the rollers and theassociated parts described above is as shown in Fig. 16. The plate H5 islocked by virtue of its slots IIB engaging between the buttons lit, thusholding the bent rod i0@ within the slot I5 at the desired distance fromthe bar Il, this distance being adjustable by the screw II 7.

When the rollers It and I I have to be taken out of their bearing boxesI3 the machine is stopped and the plates H5 are disengaged from betweenthe buttons lit although they are still held by the set screw I I'I sothat they cannot be lost. All

the other parts connected with the bent rods |09,

including the rollers I0 and II and gears H8, Fig. 17, on the shafts ofthe rollers Ill can be taken out of the boxes by removing the bent rods.

The gears driving the pairs of rollers IIJ and II can be arranged indifferent ways. As shown in Figs. 17, 19, and 21 for example, therollers are adapted to be turned by the turning of a main wheel or gear|22 rotatably mounted on the shaft I8. The gear I22 drives a gear I2Iwhich is iixed at one end of a shaft |20 (Fig. 17) turnable in the endof the box I6, the other end of said shaft carrying a gear IIS. Thelatter drives the gear Il.

Within the opposite box I6 a gear is fixed on 4the other journal part ofthe roller I0, in a main wheel or similar position to that of the gear II8, and it engages with another gear fixed on the journal part of theroller Il. These gears are not shown but it will be clear that, by thisarrangement, eaeh turning movement of one of the rollers causes theother roller to turn in the opposite direction.

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic view, similar to Fig. 1, which besides showingthe arrangement for the modicatlon of Fig. 14 also shows an arrangementhereinafter to'be described and Fig. 21 is a section on the line A-A inFig. 19. Figs. 19 and 21 show an alternative means for turning therollers I0 and II around their own axes while they are moving around thecombing cylinder I.

Whereas in the machine of Figs. 1 to 13, the rollers I0 are turned bythe pressure of their surfaces against the feeding drum 21 and thedelivery drum 46, in the modied construction now to be described theyare driven positively while travelling past the said drums.-

17 The simplest way of doing this would be to use the gears I2, Figs. 1and 4, or similar gears, fixed to the rollers I I) near to their coveredparts, outside the bearing boxes I6. The said gears could be arranged tomesh with two gears nxed to the shafts 28 and 41 of the feeding anddelivery drums when they are travelling around these drums. Thissolution however,I could expose the said gears to the dust which is atits greatest near the combing cylinder.

\ advantage to a great citent.

Fig'. 21 shows the gears |22 mounted on'the shafts I8 in the positionsIl to 3, 1 and 8 which correspond to the positions marked with the samenumbers in Fig. 14. In position 8, the gear |22 is about to mesh withthe teeth of a gear |28, which is xed on the shaft 41 of the deliverydrum 36. In position Il, the gear |22 meshes with a gear |28, xed on theshaft 28 of the feeding drum 21. In both of these positions, the gears|22 receive a turning movement in the anti- .clockwise direction. Thesame turning direction is given to the gears H8. Fig. 17, on the journalparts of the rollers ill, through the intermediary of the gears H9 and|2|, so that the rollers lil and I| revolve in the desired direction.

Whereas, in the machine of Figs. l to 13, it is necessary to getsufficient friction between the rollers lil and the drums 21 and d8 tocause a turning of this roller (Figs. 4, 6 to 8, and 10 to 13), this isunnecessary, if the rolleriil is positively driven by means, such asdescribed above. In this case, it is of advantage to leave some spacebetween the roller I and the drums 21 and fit, so that laps which differgreatly in thickness can be used. It is of further advantage that thedrums 21 and 46 need not be covered with elastic material, because nopressure is being exerted by the roller i0.

- The roller ii, however, has to be brought into the desired position,i. e., scarcely touching the feeding drum 2l and this can be attained bythe following methods, or by a c'ombination thereof,

viz., by (1) choosing the diameters of the rollers` It and |I so as tofulfill the requirements, (2) by setting the rollers I and ||'so thatthe line connecting the centres of the pins P and S crosses the rollerII instead of roller Ill, Figs. 4. and 14, and (3) by abandoning thepirnciple that tion Il to position 3 has to bein the anti-clockwisedirection and turning in that direction will be v Y have to be turned asmuch as to move the tuft the lines connecting the centres of the pins Pand S and the 4centres of the rollers IIl and |I must enclose angles of90 degrees. If the roller il is xed closer to the feeding drum 21, thisroller will be further from the delivery drum 33 when moving round apart of it. This is of advantage because the space between the roller I|andthe lap 93'lying on the drum 43, will increase.

Before describing the further movements of the rollers I0 and II, thetheoretical foundations r the movements of the tuft during thepreliminary and final combing operations will be given with reference toFig. 15,

Shortly after the detachment of the tuft, a short fringe of the tuft end84 protrudes beyond the nip of the rollers I0 and II. About up toposition 3, where the nal combing of the tuft starts.

the rollers have to turn through a certain angle which varies with thekind of fibrous material to be combed. As a certain angle of turning ofthe rollers IIJ and. is in relation to a fixed a certain length y, andbecause the roller'IIl has to be turned in the clockwise direction, thesign will be positive, thus +11. After the inversion of the tuft, theuncombed tuft end 92 protrudes as mentioned above as far as the tuft end8| protruded before the combing by the comb segment 81. It is evidentthat in order to receive the same combing as the end 3|, the end 92 hasnow to be fed the same length m. Up to the point where the final combingby the comb 9i starts, the roller ||l` has to be turned through an angle+r, After the final combing of the end 92, the roller |ii has to beturned through an angle --y, so that in position t there is the sameprotrusion of the tuft end Blei as the protrusion 'after the detachmentof the tuft.

The necessary turning movements of the roller It for the above mentionedpurposes are therefore: -m, +11, -l-x, y.

The arrangement for arriving at this result is shown more or lessdiagrammatically in Figs.`

gage alternatively with the said gears |22 loosely.

mounted on the. shafts l under the action of levers |29. The latter areturnably mounted on the members |25 and are provided at each end with aslot, as oliagramrnatically shown in Fig. 21. In one of these slots isengaged a pin |32, which is fixed to a lever I3| adapted to swing arounda pin |30 fixed to the member |25. Guided in the other slot 4in thelever |29, there is a pin |33 ilxed on the slide |28. Thus, when thelever |3I is moved in the clockwise direction to the extreme positionshown in Fig, 2l, position I, the rack |28 meshes with the gear |22.Whenthe lever I3I is turned in the anti-clockwise direction, however',the gear |22 is disengaged from the rack |26 and then meshes withtherack |21, see position 1 in Fig. 21.

Between the combing cylinder i and the disc 3, Figs. 19 and 2l, astationary disc I3@ is fixed on the stationary main shaft 2. The side ofthe disc |35 adjacent to the disc 3 is provided with a guide slot |35,in which runs a roller |86 mounted on a pin |31 which is fixed on themember |25. While moving around the combing cylinder I, the

roller |36 slides in the slot |35 and causes the onwards the said pathdoes notascend steeply enough, so that the slot |35 is steepened inorder to cause the gear |22 to be turned through a suillcient angle.From about position 3 onwards, when the final combing starts, the gear|22 does not require to be turned and in order that there shall be norelative movement between the gear |22 and the rack |26, the slot |35 isconcentric with the chain dotted path.

After the final combing by the comb segment 86, the chain dottedpathrises, see Fig. 14, andits ascent can be coupled with the descent oi'the guide slot |35. This causes the gear H22 to turn through a positiveangle. After this turning movement (through the angle +11) has beenrconcluded, the gear |22 moves out of mesh with the rack |26, the outerarm oi the lever |3i striking a stationary pin (not shown) on the disc|34 which causes the lever to turn to the anti-clockwise direction.

'Ihe turning movement +3: and u are lmparted to the roller I on theright hand side of the combing cylinder in a similar manner, but inorder to arrive at the required reverse direc;- tions of turning, therack |21 is caused to engage with the gear |22, see position 1 in Fig.21.

The turning angles of the roller I0 depend upon the number of teeth ofthe racks |28 and |21 which mesh with the gear |22. The later the pin|38 or its corresponding pin |4| on the righthand side of the combingcylinder causes the racks to mesh with the gear |22, the smaller will bethe turning movement :a The pins which cooperate with the levers |3| onthe right and left hand sides of the combing cylinder can be so arrangedthat any practical turning angles :l: and y can be arrived at.

It is advantageous to interconnect the corresponding pins on the rightand left hand sides of the combing cylinder so that when the pins on theleft hand side are adjusted for the desired turning movements -zc and-l-y, the pins on the right hand side are adjusted simultaneously forthe desired turning movements +3: and y.

As already mentioned, the pins must be statonary, and it is advantageousto iix them on the stationary disc |34, or on parts attached to it.

In Fig. 21 the number of needled rows is increased so that they reachbeyond the zones where the actual combing is being carried out (i. e.,approximately between the positions 2 to 4, Fig. l5, for the left handside). 'Ihe reason for this arrangement is to influence the percentageof the comber waste, by bringing into the zone either more needled rowswith closer, or more needled rows with wider spaced needles. By turningthe combing 'cylinder through a certain' angle in the clockwisedirection, more of the coarser needles will be engaged, causing a lesseris provided with a knob and a spring |43 presses' against the/shoulder|44 and holds the pin |46 in one of the holes, thus fixing the combingcylinder. For setting the cylinder in a different position, the knob ispulled, the combing cylinder is turned into the required position, andthe knob is released, when the pin |45 is opposite astrain isconsiderable.

percentage of noil. The reverse effect is achieved by turning thecombing cylinder in the anti-clockwise direction, so that, withinpractical limits, any percentage of noil can be arrived at by settingthe combing cylinder in the right way.

In order to hold the combing cylinder for the aforesaid purpose in anyrequired position, the side of the cylinder adjacent to the disc |34 isprovided with holes |34a (Fig. 20). arranged on a circle concentric tothe main shaft 2. On the same diameter the disc |34 carries a pin |45,provided with a shoulder |44 near its inner end, which latter is adaptedto engage in the said holes. At its opposite end the pin |45v Althoughreference has been made above to the use of two cooperating tuit holdingrollers, it is understood that the term rollers includes other`rotatable members such as cooperating quadrants, part drums, or' partcylinders or arms or bars having curved cooperating peripheries andthese may be different from each other, and may number more than two.

It will be understood that the methods and machines according to thisinvention may be used for combing cotton, wool, silk and other libresused in textile industry.

I claim:

1. A machine for combing cotton and other textile fibres, comprising arotatable lap-feeding drum, a rotatable combed lap delivery drum, astationary combing means arranged between said drums, two spacedsegmental needle sets on said combing means, a carrier member coaxialwith said combing means adapted to revolve around the latter, aplurality of pairs of cooperating, parallel tuft-holding rollers, meansfor holding said rollers ofv each pair of rollers in contact, neans forsupporting' each of said pairs of rollers on said carrier member withtheir axes parallel to its axis and in such a manner that said rollersare caused to revolve around said combing means and can also moveradially towards and from the axis of said carrier member, said meansincluding turnable bearing members in which the opposite ends of the tworollers are journalled and in which said rollers can move in a planepassing through the longitudinal axes of said rollers, means for causingeach cooperating pair of bearing members to carry out turning movementsperiodically during a complete revolution of said carrier member and soas to invert said rollers as a unit and make that roller which has ledthe pair of rollers when travelling past said feeding drum. and past thefirst segmental needle set toi become the trailing roller when saidrollers are moving past the second segmental needle set and past saiddelivery drum, means for causing said rollers to rotate aboutr theiraxes as they are travelling past a portion of the length of the firstneedle set so as to present part of the tuft thereto, said rollersremaining stationary on their axes when they are travelling past theremainder of the lrst needle set, and means for causing said rollers torotate about their axes as they are travelling past a portion of thelength of the second needle set so as to present the remainder of thetuft thereto, said rollers remaining stationary on their axes when theyare travelling past the remainder of the second needle set.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said combing means isfixed upon a stationary ymain shaft mounted in spaced front and rear

